The Centre issues a study on the situation of sexual assault against children in the governorates of the Gaza Strip

The Palestinian Center for Democracy and Conflict Resolution has conducted a study on "The situation of sexual assault against children in the governorates of the Gaza Strip". This study comes in the context of the Centre's working philosophy, which is concerned first and foremost with protecting children through the awareness and counselling programme it has carried out since its founding. In the recent period we have noticed a marked rise in the number of cases of sexual assault reported to us in the Centre's psychological counselling department. The study was carried out in the first half of October 2009 on a sample of 390 children of both sexes, in the age group 8 to 15. The study was applied in all the governorates of the Gaza Strip using the focus group tool, by holding 6 focus groups in each governorate with 12 to 16 children in each focus group. The following results were reached: • 7% of the study's sample had been exposed to one form or another of sexual assault. • In 55.5% of the cases in which the children in the study's sample were exposed to sexual assault, the perpetrator was a person known to the child. • 60% of the children in the study's sample who were exposed to sexual assault did not ask anyone for help either during or after the assault occurred. • 40% of the children in the study's sample who were exposed to sexual assault did not speak to anyone about being exposed to this assault. • Half the members of the sample have little information about sexual assault. • A third of the members of the sample cannot distinguish between a good touch and a bad touch. • Half the members of the sample have not yet realised that the perpetrator may be a member of the family. • 80% of the members of the study's sample expected that their first reaction if they were exposed to sexual assault would be to scream and run away from the place. • More than 85 real stories of sexual assaults against children were recorded during the work on the study (including what was related by the children in the sample concerning others outside it). We are pleased to place the study in the hands of all those interested so that knowledge and benefit may be shared with everyone.